WWS Calendar

Kristina Johnson, Former Under-Secretary of Energy, to Kick Off Energy and Environment Series, October 19

Audience:

Kristina Johnson, CEO of Enduring Energy, LLC and former under-secretary of energy at the U.S. Department of Energy, will present a public talk titled, "Why Clean Energy Won't Take Our Economy to the Cleaners" at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 19, in Dodds Auditorium, Robertson Hall. Johnson's talk will be the first in a series of lectures focusing on energy and the environment.

As under-secretary, Johnson was responsible for unifying and managing a multi-billion dollar energy and environment portfolio. The portfolio included research, development, demonstration and deployment projects involving the national laboratories, universities, state and local governments and private industry in renewable energy, carbon capture and sequestration, nuclear power, energy efficiency, smart grid and nuclear waste.

Under Johnson's leadership, the department developed an integrated Strategic Technologies Energy Plan (STEP) for reducing our dependence on imported oil by 75%, achieving greenhouse gas reductions of 83% by 2050, and achieving 80% low-carbon electricity by 2035, while creating jobs and laying the foundation for the clean energy economy.

Prior to joining the Department of Energy, Johnson served as provost and vice president for academic affairs at Johns Hopkins University. From 1999-2007, she was dean of the Pratt School of Engineering at Duke University. In addition to her academic career, Johnson is an inventor and entrepreneur, holding over 45 U.S. patents (129 U.S. and international patents) and co-founder of several successful companies including, ColorLink, Inc.

Johnson has received numerous recognitions for her contributions to the field of engineering, entrepreneurship and innovation, including the John Fritz Medal, considered the highest award made in the engineering profession.

Kristina Johnson, the former undersecretary for Energy at the U.S. Department of Energy, presented a public talk on October 19, 2011, titled, “Why Clean Energy Won't Take Our Economy to the Cleaners.” As under-secretary, Johnson was responsible for unifying and managing a multi-billion dollar energy and environment portfolio. The portfolio...